There were some great storms today out on the South Pacific. Huge lightning splitting the concrete sky and thunder cracking like bombs going off up the road.
I’m just back from a Japanese dinner, held by a poster child for the dotcom boom (and bust)… Chris O’Hanlon, founder and ex-CEO of Spike Networks, which crashed through the floor when the dotcom bubble burst, way back when, it seems. His reputation, in Australia at least, is somewhat shady, so when the opportunity to meet him first hand came up, I snapped it up. There were a few other creative types there – a stylist, just back from clothing Naomi Campbell (job-swap anyone?) in London, a couple of film-makers, a clothes designer, and me. It is always interesting to meet people with a reputation, isn’t it? So much expectation, so much known (or not) before any words are exchanged… I have only concluded that it was a fun night and that the sashimi was top notch. Even the ‘uni’ – sea urchin, which I’ve never had the balls to eat before. All else will be revealed in due course.
SPORT IN AUSTRALIA RANT ABOUT TO BEGIN: DANGER!
As ever, Wimbledon is going on in the background. Phillipoussis in action again. An Australian. Its been bizarre here – no Henmania whatsoever. If you’re in London and Tim Henman does a particularly impressive sneeze, you know about it. Over here, in this strange land where people are FANATICAL about sport in a way you can’t imagine unless you’ve been here, the focus is one-hundred percent on the Australians. In fact, although the Henman match is on, I haven’t seen any of it… and they are totally up for Henman to get beaten when rain stops play and they show a shot or tow on video. When I arrived in Australia, I was a huge fan of Australian sportsmen – particularly the cricket team, always praying for them to slaughter England (no offence to anyone English – I just couldn’t stand the ‘we are the best’ mentality). But not any more… I will leap for joy as England destroy them in the Rugby World Cup (despite the fact that Big Ken Haddock in Belfast may never speak to me again). D. and I cracked open a bottle of Peterson’s Methode Champenoise when Lleyton Hewitt got trashed. Yes, my love for the Aussie sportsmen has plummeted, due to chronic smugness on the part of their home nation. The cricket team will be the last to be ditched, however… that would be asking too much at this point in time; but if I hear one Australian extol the virtues of the side as the best in the world when the season starts again, I will be rooting for Little Upton Special School 2nd XI should Australia be playing them.
RANT OVER.
Right, I’m off to bed. Long day tomorrow…